Moonville Series 1: Secret Lovers

That night, Richard went to Bryan's house to ask him about Alex. He has been noticing for a few days now that something is off between them. Something is different. Especially how Alex acted earlier at CPRU. That was the first time he has seen her like that.

Bryan was doing something on his study table when he saw him. He seems busy, but Richard still tried to have a conversation with him.

"Bry, did Angel mention something to you?"

"What about?" Bryan said, not even looking at him.

"About Alex." Richard sat down on his bed.

Bryan's back is turned on him, so he didn't notice that he paused a little. "What about Alex? She didn't mention anything."

"It just feels like something is different."

Bryan turned to face him. "Different? About Alex?"

Richard nodded. "Hm-hm."

"Maybe it's you."

Richard was surprised. "Me?"

"Yeah. Something might be different about you?"

Richard frowned. What does he want to imply? "Nothing's different about me."

Bryan gazed at him but didn't say a word. In the end, he just turned his back on him again. "Nothing about her has changed."

"Is that so?" Richard fell into deep thought. "Maybe I just miss her. During our classes together, she always come in just in time before our professor for that subject arrives. That's why we don't have time to chat with each other anymore. Sometimes she doesn't sit with me."

"Maybe because she doesn't want to be scolded by your professor. The class is already starting and she's not yet seated."

"Then after our class, she will immediately leave."

"Maybe she's busy?"

"That's what she always say. That she needs to do something."

"You're not the only one Alex needs to attend to. Like you, she also needs to do a lot of things in her life."

It seems like Bryan wants to imply something. Or maybe, he's just being paranoid?

"What if, Alex is sulking about me?"

Again, Richard is oblivious about Bryan pausing. He also didn't see him smile secretly.

"But why would she feel that about me? I didn't do anything wrong."

Bryan faced him again. "You didn't do anything wrong, but did you do something right?"

"Hmn?" Richard frowned.

"Remember what the priest said on his homily last Sunday? It's not enough that you do not do anything wrong. You still have to do something good, something right."

"Then, what do I have to do?"

Bryan shrugged. "Well, it's for you to know and for you to find out." He turned his back on him and continued what he's doing on his desk.

"Do I have to send her flowers everyday? Chocolates, maybe? What's her favorite chocolate, by the way?"

Bryan faced him again. "You still don't know what is Alex's favorite chocolate?"

"How about Angel? Do you know?" Richard asked.

"Dark chocolate. And she loves gummy bears."

Richard was dumbfounded. Actually, he and Alex became close longer than Bryan and Angel. Well, the two have known each other longer, but before they were just mere classmates and they never even talk to each other. "Fine! I should have given importance to those details."

Bryan turned his back on him again. "You know Cuz, sometimes, it's the effort that counts."

"Effort..." Richard contemplated. "Is sending flowers every day considered effort?"

"Do you know what's her favorite flower?" Bryan asks without even looking at him.

Richard looked at Bryan's back. It seems like his cousin is really busy. He has been writing nonstop since he arrived. It's a good thing he still can talk to him.

An idea suddenly struck him. 'Write? What if..." "What if I give her a love letter?"

"Hmn?" Bryan turned to face him.

"Love letters! For sure she would love those. I think she's the type who loves those stuff."

"Love letter? Are you sure?"

Richard looked at her cousin. 'Oh, right.' "Uh... maybe I could try? You just need to write how you feel, right?"

Bryan smirked. "Okay, sure. Do whatever you think is best. At least Alex would know that you put so much effort into them. Which you will really do." He started laughing.

"I know!" Richard know he doesn't have talent in writing. But, how hard is it to compose a love letter? You just need to write what you feel about a person, right?

Bryan just continued laughing. "Just write properly, okay?"

Richard is beginning to feel annoyed. "Yeah, I will!"

Writing a love letter is not that complicated. 'It's easy...' That's what he repeatedly tells himself as he went home. For sure he can write that love letter. 'For Alex.' For the two of them.

Bryan handed a letter to Alex.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

"What is this?" Alex took the letter.

Bryan smirked. "Love letter."

"Huh?" She looked at the letter.

"From Richard."

Alex's heart pounded on her chest. She has been avoiding Richard for some days now, and then he's giving her a love letter? What could be in that letter? Could it be bad news? Is he breaking up with her?

But, they're not even officially a couple in the first place. Maybe this letter is to let her know that he will stop courting her. That he could no longer tolerate her attitude and he could not understand why she suddenly avoided him. Maybe he wants to tell her that he instead wants to court Kim.

"Wow! Love letter!" Angel seems excited for Alex. "I wonder what's written in it."

Oh well, she can't do anything whatever is written on that letter. Even though she's very nervous, she still opened the letter and read what's written in there.

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sum and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love better after death.

-Elizabeth Barett Browning

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Alex looked at Angel and Bryan.

"How was it?" Angel excitedly asked her.

"He copied 'How Do I Love Thee?' by Elizabeth Barret Browning."

Bryan laughed at what he heard.

Alex looked at the letter again. "At least he wrote her name in the end."

"Please excuse Richard," Bryan said, still laughing his heart out. "He really doesn't have the patience to do those stuff. When it comes to writing, you really can't depend on him."

"At least he took the effort to research and copy," Angel commented.

Bryan stopped laughing as he gazed at Angel.

"Yes, he cannot express how he feels for you; instead, he used another person's words to describe how much he cares for you. I think it doesn't matter anymore. What matters is he was able to express how he feels about you." Bryan completely became speechless. He just stared at Angel who is smiling at Alex.

Alex looked at the letter. If that's the explanation about why Richard did that, then it only means one thing. He loves her. But, why can't he tell that to her in person? Why does he need to put it in a letter, using other people's words to describe his feelings? It's not that she can't appreciate his effort. But a simple 'I love you' will do, as long as it came from him.

She smiled at Angel though. And then, she looked at Bryan. "Please thank Richard for me."

"He told me he misses you," Bryan said. "Yes, you see each other often, but you don't even talk."

"We're just... busy," Alex said. "Anyway, when our schedule is freed, maybe we can go back to how we used to be." Bryan nodded. "Okay, I'll tell him you said that."

Alex smiled at Bryan. She's aware that her older sister talks to Bryan about her and Richard. For sure Angel had mentioned to him how problematic she is right now about his cousin. She doesn't mind, actually. She knows her sister is just concerned about her, and who can she tell about that problem but Bryan?

She looked at the letter again. She actually loved the poem. It's one of her favorites. She does not remember telling that to Richard. For sure he just happened to hit that. And she was touched by his effort. Her older sister is right. It's the effort that matters.

And he really exerted so much effort on it. His penmanship is a clear manifestation of that effort. Alex smiled.

"Richard will definitely become a good doctor in the future."

Angel and Bryan looked at her.

"He writes like a doctor."

She showed them the letter. Bryan laughed again, though Angel tried to control herself.

"That's what you call effort," Angel said, smiling slowly.

Alex also smiled, a real one. She was affected by Bryan's nonstop laughing. Angel also started laughing because of Bryan.

"You know, you're so mean!" Angel told Bryan.

Bryan just gave her a peace sign because he can't stop laughing. The two sisters eventually laughed with him.